Paperback, ebook, audio, and audio CD

May 31, 2016

Meet the people who make it all happen—the planners, the photographers, the musicians who have helped orchestrate the perfect day for countless couples—as they find their own happy endings in the second Year of Weddings novella collection.

Picture Perfect Love: A June Wedding Story by Melissa McClone

When image becomes everything, it’s up to love to refocus the heart.

Photographer Jenna Harrison wants every bride and groom to look picture perfect on their special day. But her own heart is still broken, the unworn wedding dress hanging in her closet a reminder that relationships aren’t always as perfect as they look through her camera lens.

Attorney Ashton Vance is the one that got away, but he wrongly blamed Jenna for ruining his political aspirations. Even if Jenna can forgive him, dare he hope for a second chance at her love?

My thoughts: PICTURE PERFECT LOVE is the first story I’ve read by Melissa McClone. I enjoyed PICTURE PERFECT LOVE and it held my interest all the way through. I didn’t think much of Ashton though. He accuses Jenna of betraying his trust, but yet over and over he betrays hers. I don’t know if I would have forgiven him quite as easily as she did. I had to admire how she handled herself around him and his sister, showing forgiveness, yet standing firm for her rights.

There were some things I didn’t like. Letting the bride’s brother pay double her going rate to photograph his sister’s wedding. If she truly forgave them, then she wouldn’t have done that. She seemed a bit mercenary, with that and with another issue. I did like how she found a good church and friends who supported her, both spiritually and in friendship and love.

Grant Nichols is a genius in the kitchen and a klutz on the dance floor. But his friend’s wedding is shaping up to be a shindig the likes of which Kings Meadow has never seen—including dancing. Lots of dancing.

Former rodeo queen Skye Foster is offering dance lessons for the wedding party. Grant and Skye are no match on paper. But when they step onto the dance floor, they create a melody all their own.

My thoughts: I HOPE YOU DANCE is the seventh book in the secondYear of Weddings series by Zondervan. Skye is a dance instructor for weddings and is big with waltz’s and two-steps. She is also a rodeo queen and dreams of marrying a cowboy. Grant is a cowboy, loves country music, but he cannot dance.

My first impression of this story was hokey. The characters were somewhat flat, the story was predictable, and there was no meat to the story. The only conflict was over the issue of kids. Robin Lee Hatcher is a hit or miss author for me, and I’ve missed her series lately some of the secondary characters were introduced in, but this story stood alone anyway.

Ms. Hatcher’s writing is impeccable, and fans might really love it. Also those who love the Year of Weddings series. A quick read, I finished in a little over an hour. 3 stars.

Love on a Deadline: An August Wedding Story by Kathryn Springer

MacKenzie “Mac” Davis returns to her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, and takes a job at the weekly newspaper writing about social events.

When Hollis Channing, Mac’s high school nemesis, returns to Red Leaf to marry her celebrity fiancé, the editor asks Mac to cover all the festivities for the newspaper. The last thing Mac wants to do is reconnect with the person who made her life miserable when she was a teenager . . . unless it’s spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride’s older brother—and Mac’s first crush.

My thoughts: I love these weddings of the years novellas and this is one of the best ones this year. I enjoyed getting to know Mac and Ethan and having Mac get to know her high school crush all over again. I also loved how Ethan's sister, Hollis, changed from the mean rich girl that made fun of Mac to a sweetheart who had a lot of love and courage.

LOVE ON A DEADLINE only took a few hours to read, and it was a satisfying read from start to finish. So many novellas feel unfinished, but this one didn't. Plus the characters had enough depth they became "real".

If you like contemporary romances, then pick up a copy of LOVE ON A DEADLINE. You'll be glad you did. 5 stars. 4.16 stars for the collection